Hemerocallis × 'Stella de Oro'
Stella de Oro Daylily
Genus native to East Asia (China, Japan, Korea); 'Stella de Oro' bred by Walter Jablonski, Indiana, registered 1975
Overview
Hemerocallis spp. × 'Stella de Oro' is a compact reblooming daylily in the Asphodelaceae spp. family, the plant that opened the reblooming daylily class in the modern trade. It grows 12-15 inches (30-38 cm) tall and 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) wide, at the compact end of the daylily range. Deep golden-yellow trumpet-shaped flowers 2.75 inches (7 cm) across open from June through October across a 16-week-plus rebloom, far longer than the 4-week single flush of most daylilies and new to the market at its 1975 introduction by Walter Jablonski. The name means 'star of gold' in Italian, for the saturated gold flowers. It set off a wave of reblooming miniatures, among them 'Happy Returns' (1986) and 'Pardon Me' (1982). The gold runs warmer and richer than the pale lemon of 'Happy Returns' and contrasts with the cranberry-red of 'Pardon Me'. A light sweet scent carries in evening air. Medium green strap-shaped arching leaves form a compact fountain-like mound. In hot climates the rebloom may slow through the hottest weeks of August, then resume in September. Deer browse daylily foliage. All daylilies are toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure if eaten. Hardy in zones 3-9.
Native Range
Hemerocallis spp. species are native to East Asia, in China, Japan, and Korea, where they grow in moist meadows, along streams, and at forest edges. 'Stella de Oro' is a garden hybrid bred by Walter Jablonski in Indiana and registered with the American Hemerocallis Society in 1975.Suggested Uses
Grown at the front of borders, along walkways, in mass plantings, foundation beds, and containers of 5 gallons (19 L) or more. Mass plantings at 15-18 inch (38-45 cm) spacing make a solid flowering ground cover. The continuous gold bloom fills the summer-to-fall gap with little upkeep, and it pairs with 'Happy Returns' and 'Pardon Me' for a multi-color display in the same size class. Foliage is toxic to cats.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 1'3"
Width/Spread1'6" - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Flowering runs June through October across about 16 weeks of near-continuous rebloom. Each flower lasts one day, replaced by new buds and scapes through the season, and the rebloom is genetic rather than dependent on deadheading. The 16-week window was new at the 1975 introduction and set the pattern later carried by 'Happy Returns' and 'Pardon Me'. In hot continental summers the bloom may pause through the hottest weeks of August, then resume in September.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Deep golden-yellow, trumpet-shaped, 2.75 inches (7 cm) across, in the miniature daylily classFoliage Description
Medium green, strap-shaped, arching, forming a fountain-like moundGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in full sun to partial shade with 5-10 hours of light; flower count rises with more direct sun. Average, well-drained soil of any type suits it, whether clay, sand, or loam. Water through the first season while establishing; the plant is drought-tolerant once rooted. Snapping off spent flowers keeps a tidy look but is not needed for continued bloom, since the rebloom is genetic. Divide clumps every 3-4 years when the crown crowds and flowering slows. All daylilies are toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure if eaten.Pruning
Snap off spent flowers for a tidy look, though this is cosmetic since rebloom is genetic. Remove whole scapes at the base once all their buds have opened. Cut the foliage to the ground in late fall after frost or in early spring before new growth, and divide every 3-4 years to hold vigor.Pruning Schedule
J
F
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A
M
J
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A
S
O
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fallearly spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons